My Net Worth: Leeann Watson, Business Canterbury CEO

Leann Watson started working at Business Canterbury 28 years ago. (Image: Supplied)

Sun, 24 Aug 2025

Leeann Watson began at Business Canterbury 28 years ago as an events coordinator and is now in her eighth year as chief executive. She has overseen a major transformation of the chamber while helping steer the region’s business community through recessions and the pandemic. Her proudest achievement, though, is raising three children with her husband of 32 years. I grew up in Dunedin, the middle of three girls, in what I’d call a pretty typical Kiwi household. Mum and Dad worked hard. We never went without, but you had to work f...

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